Dutch craft Flemish art

Luxury itinerary day-by-day

Amsterdam to Vianen

Arrive in Amsterdam on Saturday and at 1pm board your barge which is moored in the heart of the city. Around 2pm the boat slips its mooring and sails to Nigtevecht. From here there is a short bike ride to Breukelen along the winding and beautiful river Vecht with its impressive riverside mansions and country houses. By the end of the afternoon the barge will have you in Vianen, a small fortified Dutch town on the river Lek. Lunch is not included today but dinner will be served on board.

Optional 9 miles (15 km)

2. Day two

Vianen to Dordrecht

After breakfast there is an optional pedal along a charming route to Schoonhoven, known as the silver city. Those wanting the shorter ride disembark here to join the route through the Alblasserwaard to Kinderdijk. Here there is an impressive row of 19 large windmills listed by Unesco, one of which you can tour inside. The barge then takes you on to Dordrecht, an important shipping intersection and one of the oldest towns in Holland. You will spend the night in the historic port of Wolwevershaven.

Optional 16 or 30 miles (25 or 50 km)

3. Day three

Dordrecht to Antwerp

Whilst you are eating your breakfast the ship will sail to Tholen. From there you ride through a forest area - the Wouwse Plantage to Bergen op Zoom and on southwards to imposing Kreekrak Lock. The ship docks at the end of the dam and from there it sails into Flanders through the impressive port of Antwerp to the city itself. Antwerp is not only known as the diamond city, but also as the native city of painter Rubens. You will find some of his paintings in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral. Explore this beautiful old Flemish city centre after dinner on board.

Optional 21 miles (34 km)

4. Day four

Antwerp to St Amands/ Dendermonde

Ride out of the port to the Zeeschelde and follow the beautiful but capricious tidal river Schelde upstream through Flanders. The bike path follows the dreamy banks of the river and leads through a magnificent landscape calling at Temse en route. There is a choice of distances today and depending on the tide, the boat ties up at either St Amands or Dendermonde, a friendly little riverside town.

Optional 25 or 34 miles (42 or 56 km)

5. Day five

St Amands/Dendermonde to Ghent

This morning you pedal along the banks of the River Schelde to reach Ghent where you can spend the afternoon exploring this lively university city and its rich past. Founded in Roman times, the city's prosperity was at its height in the late 13th and early 14th century when the textile industry brought great wealth. Many fine buildings such as Cloth Hall remain from that time. The cathedral houses some notable masterpieces of medieval art of which "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. The ship is docked at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent.

Optional 24 or 32 miles (38 or 52 km)

6. Day six

Ghent to Bruges

Today's route ambles through the pretty Western Flanders countryside to Bruges and those wanting the shorter route stay on board a little longer this morning. Bruges, also called the Venice of the North, is probably the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. Bruges was at that time a metropolis and centre of commerce and art and you can still see this glory in it's beautiful buildings.

Optional 14 or 28 miles (22 or 45 km)

7. Day seven

Bruges to the North Sea and back

Choose between exploring wonderful Bruges in a little more detail or pedalling north to the coast and enjoying a cafe or three, a long sandy beach and the attractive dune landscape of Het Zwin, a unique nature reserve. Along the way, ride a quiet poplar lined canal that threads its way through a rural polder landscape dotted with small farms. Return to Bruges for dinner on board.

Optional 30 miles (48 km)

8. Day eight

Depart Bruges

After a final breakfast on board its time to say farewell and disembark by 10am.

Alternative start-point:

1. Day one

Arrive Bruges

Arrive in Bruges on Saturday and early in the afternoon board your barge which is moored in the heart of the city. The crew will welcome you and show you Bruges this afternoon and evening. Also called the Venice of the North, it is probably the most beautiful of all Flemish cities. Its old centre, which dates from the Middle Ages, is almost completely intact. Bruges was at that time a metropolis and centre of commerce and art and you can still see this glory in its beautiful buildings. Lunch is not included today but dinner will be served on board.

2. Day two

Bruges to Ghent

Your day starts on the water and the barge will slip its moorings early and head out of town. Once in the countryside, its time to reach for the pedals and freewheel through Western Flanders heading for Ghent where you can spend the afternoon exploring this lively university city and its rich past. Founded in Roman times, the city's prosperity was at its height in the late 13th and early 14th century when the textile industry brought great wealth. Many fine buildings such as Cloth Hall remain from that time. The cathedral houses some notable masterpieces of medieval art of which "Adoration of the Mystic Lamb" by Jan van Eyck is the most famous. The ship is docked at the lock in Merelbeke, a suburb of Ghent.

Optional 14 or 28 miles (22 or 45 km)

3. Day three

Ghent to St Amands

Ride downstream today along the banks of the tidal Schelde River, along one of its most beautiful and dreamy stretches. Love the peace and enjoy the views and wildlife of Flanders at its best. You may join the boat in Dendermonde, a friendly little riverside town or in St Amands depending on the tide. Those taking the shorter ride stay on board a little longer this morning.

Optional 24 or 32 miles (38 or 52 km)

4. Day four

St Amands to Antwerp

Continuing to follow the capricious river, you thread your way through a magnificent landscape calling at Temse enroute. Next is the Zeeschelde and then through the impressive port of Antwerp to the city itself. Antwerp is not only known as the diamond city, but also as the native city of painter Rubens. You will find some of his paintings in the Onze Lieve Vrouwe Cathedral. Explore this beautiful old Flemish city centre after dinner on board.

Optional 25 or 34 miles (42 or 56 km)

5. Day five

Antwerp to Dordrecht

Your barge takes you along the Schelde Rhine Canal this morning as you leave Flanders and head for Holland through the huge Kreekrak Locks to Tholen, a former fishing village set in the meadows of Zeeland. Pedalling from here you cycle along the impressive Volkerak locks to the fortified town of Willemstad and then on to Dordrecht, one of the oldest Dutch towns. The sections you cycle today may vary and your skipper will brief you in the morning.

Optional 15 or 28 miles (24 or 45 km)

6. Day six

Dordrecht to Vianen

Stay on board until you reach Kinderdijk this morning. Here there is an impressive row of 19 large windmills listed by Unesco, one of which you can tour inside. Built in the 18th Century to pump water out of the Alblasserwaard polder, they appear a work of art. Continuing through the Dutch lowlands you reach Schoonhoven, known as silver city and further on arrive in Vianen, a small fortified Dutch town on the River Lek where your barge ties up for the night. Explore the town after dinner on board.

Optional 16 or 30 miles (25 or 50 km)

7. Day seven

Vianen to Amsterdam

Your last day of cycling starts in Breukelen where you pedal along the banks of the winding and beautiful River Vecht with its impressive riverside mansions, small castles and country houses with large gardens. Take in several charming villages and stop to visit a traditional cheese farm in Nigtevecht. You wind your way into the heart of Amsterdam along the Amstel river and rejoin the barge in the city's harbour for your final dinner on board.

Optional 21 miles (34 km)

8. Day eight

Depart Amsterdam

After a final breakfast on board its time to say farewell and disembark by 10am.

freewheel through Western Flanders heading for Ghent where you can spend the afternoon…